Hammock cradle



1, 1965 R. J. ROBERTS 3,203,012

HAMMOCK CRADLE Filed April 2. 1964 INVENTOR Robert J. Roberts ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,203,012 HAMMOCK CRADLE Robert J. Roberts, 351 Hamilton Place, West Islip, N.Y. Filed Apr. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 356,817 3 Claims. (Cl. -120) This invention relates generally to collapsible hammocks of portable character and which may be conveniently stored when not in use, and more particularly to a hammock of improved construction wherein the cradle thereof may be utilized apart from the hammock as a basket adapted to carrying an infant or packages therein.

Whereas living space in apartments and private dwellings as well, is often limited, duality of purpose of household objects is a sought after desideratum mainly in view of the space saving attribute realisable therefrom. Other conveniences, however, will often be appreciated where a single object may be put to more than one purpose.

Specifically, and consonant with the foregoing, the instant invention has for an object the provision of a hammock, wherein the cradle adapted to swing between the end standards thereof may be readily removed and hand-carried as a basket while shopping or used as a portable crib for carrying an infant in an automobile, for example.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character wherein the cradle, whether when utilized in combination with the hammock or as a basket independently thereof, will be carried by support members interchangeably applicable for either purpose.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a hammock cradle which may be removed from the hammock merely by raising the cradle oif the support members, said cradle being seatingly suspended therebetween.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device in accordance with the foregoing which includes helical spring suspensions for the cradle while in the hammock embodiment and which affords collapsibility with respect to the hammock standards and frame structure to facilitate storage thereof.

Another general object of the present invention is to provide a device of the described character which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, easily and quickly assembled and highly effective in use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant hammock cradle will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realised and attained by means of thestructure defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the hammock cradle suspendedly supported intermediate the end standards of the hammock structure;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the cradle including one end of the hammock structure and cradle support means;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the cradle apart from the hammock structure, the support members being connected therewith to provide handles for carrying said cradle;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional end elevation of the cradle taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged and fragmentary view of the connecting means including helical coil spring and cylindrical socket member.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred em- Biddfili Patented Aug. 31, 1965 bodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the cradle designated generally by numeral 1 operatively suspended intermediate spaced, opposingly positioned standards 2 and 4.

More specifically, the cradle structure is comprised of a hollow shell having an open top 6, side walls 8 and 10, end walls 12 and 14 and bottom wall 16, said end and side walls having top edges 18 which define the periphery of the open top 6 of said hollow shell. It will be appreciated that although the cradle described is preferable, other suitable constructions may be employed, such as a barred or perforated structure defining an opening therewithin for carrying an infant or packages if desired.

Elongated arcuate hook members 20 and 22 intergral with said side walls 8 and 10, respectively, and disposed adjacently of the top edges thereof, each extend horizontally and outwardly from said side walls and turn downwardly therefrom as shown in the drawings.

With reference again to FIGURE 1, respective pairs of ears 24, 26 and 28, 30, will be observed projecting upwardly of the top edge of side walls 8 and 10, respectively, a socket passage 32 being disposed through each said ears. Upon viewing the several figures collectively, it will be appreciated that the passage disposed through each respective ear associated with one side wall is in axial alignment with the passage disposed through respective ears of the other side wall, i.e., the passages through ears 24 and 28 are axially aligned and similarly with respect to the passages through ears 26 and 30. Accordingly, said pairs of cars as shown are arranged in spaced relation, said hook members, respectively, being disposed intermediately therebetween, said hook members being substantially equidistant with respect to said end walls 12 and 14.

It will be understood that while said hook members and socket passages are preferably provided as herein disclosed and described, other suitable embodiments are considered within the purview of this invention. For example, said socket passages may be disposed directly through side walls 8 and 10 rather than through ears 24, 26, 28, and 30, which in such event, the latter may be dispensed with; and hook members 20 and 22 may vary in configuration, without materially modifying the operability of the invention.

To the ends of supporting the cradle as shown in FIGURE 1 or of providing carrying handles therefor as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, U-shaped support members 34 and 36 are provided, each being formed of divergingly arranged free-ended arms 38, 40 and 42, 44, respectively, and horizontal apical sections 46, 46 disposed between said arms of each support member as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. Sleeves 48, 48, each being coaxially and rotatably disposed about said apical sections, respectively, provide convenient handle grips upon utilization of said support members as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 and further constitute bearing supports between said sleeves and hook members when said cradle is suspended as shown in FIGURES 1 and Q.

Laterally extending bent portion 50 is provided terminally of the free end of each said free-ended arm, as shown in the drawings, and is removably receivable within a socket passage 32 of said respective ear project-ions, thus rendering support members 34 and 36, in their inverted position as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, effective carrying handles for hammock cradle 1, to thereby enable utilization of said cradle as a shopping basket or as a portable crib as the demand may be.

With respect to the hammock structure in particular, it will be seen that each said end standard 2 and 4 is comprised of leg elements 52, 54 and 56, 58, respectively, each leg element being pivotally connected by pins 60 to s,aos,012

thereof being shown in FIGURE with respect to leg element 52, the pairs of leg elements may be folded into mutual juxtaposition, side braces 64 being provided as a rigid connection between said end standards thereby maintaining said standards in spaced relation whether they be folded for storage or operably arranged.

Each cradle connecting means shown secured at the upper end of each standard 2 and 4 in FIGURE 1 of the drawings and generally designated by numeral 68 in FIG- URE 5 includes helically coiled tension spring 70, one end 72 thereof being securely hooked into eyelet 74 connected approximately centrally of cross member 62, the other end 76 thereof being secured through cylindrical socket member 78 by nut 79, bores 86 being disposed inwardly of the ends 82 of said socket members, wherein bent portions 50 of said support members are receivable. Set screws 84 are employed for securing said bent portions within said bores. Accordingly, with the secure retention of bent portions 5% Within bores 3-9, a secure and resilient suspension system comprised of support members 34 and 36 and said cradle connecting means is provided intermediate said end standards. Further stability to the instant hammock structure is provided by flexible restraint means 84 connected intermediate the lower ends of each pair of leg elements, thus limiting the relative movement of said elements.

Thus, where the cradle is to be used with the hammock structure, hook members and 22 are merely seated upon the sleeve 48 of respective horizontal apical sections, suspension of said cradle between the standards of the hammock being thereby eftectuated. Where the cradle is to be used as a carrying basket or portable infant crib, bent portions of support members 34 and 36 are removed from socket members '78 and after inversion of said support members as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the bent portions are inserted into socket passages 32 of said ear projections. The crib or basket may conveniently be carried at sleeves 48 which now serve as handles.

Although the preferred embodiment of the hammock cradle has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cradle for use with a hammock or as a receptacle carryable independently of said hammock, comprised of an open top hollow shell having end walls, side walls and a bottom wall, said end and side walls having top edges, said edges defining the periphery of the open top of said hollow shell, an elongated arcuate hook member disposed adjacently of the top edge of each said side wall and extending horizontally and turning downwardly therefrom, a pair of spaced ears projecting upwardly of the top edge of each said side wall, said hook member being disposed therebetween, each said ear having a socket passage disposed therethrough, the passage disposed through each respective ear of one side wall being in axial alignment with the passage disposed through respective ears of the other side wall, a pair of U-shaped support members each being formed of divergingly arranged freeended arms and a horizontal apical section therebetween, each arm having a bent portion provided terminally of the free ends thereof, said bent portions being removably receivable within said ear passages, whereby said hollow shell may be supported by said support members, said horizontal apical section of each member providing a handle for carrying said cradle.

2. A cradle for use with a hammock having a pair of rigidly spaced opposingly positioned standards, each standard having cradle connecting means secured at the upper end thereof, said cradle being comprised of an open top hollow shell having end walls, side walls and a bottom wall, said end and side walls having top edges, said edges defining the periphery of the open top of said hollow shell, an elongated arcuate hook member disposed adjacently of the top edge of each said side wall and extending horizontally and turning downwardly therefrom, a pair of spaced ears projecting upwardly of the top edge of each said side walls, each said ear having a socket passage disposed therethrough, the passage disposed through each respective ear of one side wall being in axial alignment with the passage disposed through respective ears of the other side wall, a pair of U-shaped support members each being formed of divergingly arranged freeended arms and a horizontal apical section therebetween, each arm having a bent portion provided terminally of the free ends thereof, said bent portions being removably securable with respect to the cradle connecting means, and said elongated arcuate hook members being adapted to removably set upon said respective horizontal apical sections to effectuate suspension of said cradle between the standards of the hammock.

3. In a hammock having a pair of rigidly spaced opposingly positioned standards and cradle connecting means secured at the upper end of each standard, a cradle suspendedly supported between the standards, said cradle comprising end walls, side walls and a bottom wall, a hook member provided upon the outside of each said side walls and positioned thereon substantially intermediate the distance between said end walls, a pair of U-shaped support members each being formed of divergingly arranged free-ended arms and an apical section therebetween, each arm having a bent portion provided terminally of the free ends thereof, a pair of socket passages provided upon each said side wall, said bent portions being removably receivable within respective socket passages, said bent portions being removably secured to respective cradle connecting means to suspend said support members between said opposingly positioned standards, each said hook member being removably seated upon a respective apical section of a support member to suspend said cradle between the standards of the hammock.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 145,218 12/73 Lewis 5-l04 838,078 12/06 Carbaugh 5-127 1,463,571 7/23 Brarne 5-127 X 1,675,221 6/28 Knappe 512O 2,071,016 2/37 Archer 5--l03 2,107,769 2/ 38 Simons 22094 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CRADLE FOR USE WITH A HAMMOCK OR AS A RECEPTACLE CARRYABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID HAMMOCK COMPRISED OF AN OPEN TOP HOLLOW SHELL HVING END WALLS, SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM WALL, SAID END AND SIDE WALLS HAVING TOP EDGES, SAID EDGES DEFINIG GHE PERIPHERY OF THE OPEN TOP OF SAID HOLLOW SHELL, AN ELONGATED ARCUATE HOOK MEMBER DISPOSED ADJACENTLY OF THE TOP EDGE OF EACH SAID SIDE WALL AND EXTENDING HORIZONTALY AND TURNING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, A PAIR OF SPACED EARS PROJECTING UPWARDLY OF THE TOP EDGE OF EACH SAID SIDE WALL, SAID HOOK MEMBER BEING DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN, EACH SAID EAR HAVING A SOCKET PASSAGE DISPOSED THERETHROUGH, THE PASSAGE DISPOSED THROUGH EACH RESPECTIVE EAR OF ONE SIDE WALL BEING IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE PASSAGE DISPOSED THROUGH RESPECTIVE EARS OF THE OTHER SIDE WALL, A PAIR OF U-SHAPED SUPPORT MEMBERS EACH BEING FORMED OF DIVERGINGLY ARRANGED FREEENDED ARMS AND HORIZONTAL APICAL SECTION THEREBETWEEN, EACH ARM HAVING A BENT PORTION PROVIDED TERMINALLY OF THE FREE ENDS THEREOF, SAID BENT PORITONS BEING REMOVABLY RECEIVABLE WITHIN SAID EAR PASAGES, WHEREBY SAID HOLLOW SHELL MAY BE SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS, SAID HORIZONTAL APICAL SECTION OF EACH MEMBER PROVIDING A HANDLE FOR CARRYING SAID CRADLE. 